Life-preserver.



J. J. PUSKANEN.

LIFE PRESBRVER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1012.

Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1.

J. J.PUSKANBN. LIFE PRESERVBR.

- APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY 13, 1912.

1; 59 392 Patented Apr. 22, 1913.

2 sums-41113111 2.

Y amen V601 (WM/"mo 556k;

JOHNIJ'AGOB lPUsKANEN OF CHISHOLM, MINNESOTA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed July 13,1912. Seria1No.709,145

To all whom it mag concern: j

Be it known that 11, Jenn J. PUsKANnN, a citizen of the United States, residing ;at

Chisholm, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Life-Preserver; and I ldo hereby declare the following to be a full ,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to. which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and life preserver.

As one of the objects of the invention it is the aim to provide a. double waterproof cloth receptacle, theclosure end of which may be shirred to close the same and pro vided with means for holdingthe .preserver substantially erect, regardless ofthe weather and the condition of the water.

Another object of the invention is to providlea water-tight closure end for the receptac e.

Another object of the invention. is the provision of a life preserver that. does not have to be submerged in water before used.

Another object of the invention is to economize on storage space.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an: air tubezhaving a valve, which is held closed when the life preserver is submerged under the a water, when the person wearing the preserver first enters the water.

Asa further object :ofthelinvention it is the aim to provide a lcollapsible life preserver having means for holding the same extended when worn by the person inRthe water, and one. which has been found desirable and practical.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings ::-Figure.1 is a. vertical sectional view through the improved life preserver constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. Qis a View in perspective of the life preserver, showing the plug at the closureyend in Fig.3 ljomitted. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view 1011 a small scale of the life preserver, showing the same equippedwith a flag that :acts. as a signal.

useful Fig. 4 is a view partly in section and partly Patented Apr. 22, 1913. 1

in elevation, with the air tube omitted, showa ing the life preserver collapsed. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional vlew on line 5-5 of line 6.6 of Fig. 1..

Referrin more articular-l to the drawe mgs 1 des1gnates a receptacle or bag-like;

through which the air tube (3 extends. This.

air tube 6 is secured in the plug by the threaded bushing 7, and is provided with a valve 8, held normally closed by the spring 9, especially when the life preserver becomes submerged in the water. A cord or rope 6 is provided connected to the stem of the valve, whereby upon pulling upon the same,

the valve 8 may be opened downwardly. In;

Fig. 2, however,1the closure end of the receptacle is shirred about the air tube 6. Secured to the air tube, as shown clearly in Fig. 3 is a flag staff 10 having a flag {'11, which constitutes signaling means.

In order to keep the life preservcr afloat,

and to offer buoyancy therefor, a pneumatic substantially annular tube 12 ISPIOVIClQC l, whlch 1s constructed of two thicknesses of material, the inner one of which being a composition of canvas and rubber, while the outer one is of cork. denoted by the numeral 13, while the outer one is marked 14. This pneumatic tube may .55 Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view on.

The inner material is.

be inflated by attaching a tube connection. (not shown) of a pump (not shown) to the check valve extension 15 of the. pneumatic.

The pneumatic is secured to the inner face constructed of a composition of canvas and rubber. The straps 16 may be vulcanized or otherwise secured as at 17 to the inner face of the receptacle. The pneumatic also leads stability to the receptacle.

of the receptacle by the straps 16, which are The receptacle below the pneumatic tern members 18, 1'9 and 20 are secured to the inner face of the receptacle, by means of the straps 21., 22 and-23. Thesestraps 21, 22

and 23 are constructed of composition rubber and canvas, and are vulcanized or other wise secured to the material of the recep tacle- The upper and lower brace members 18 and 19 are constructed ofa composition rubber and canvas or the like, while the in:

termediate brace member 20 mayv be con-.

struct'ed of cork or thelike.

Secured to the straps 22 at 25-are bars 26, theends of which are pivoted at 27 and 28 to thebars 29 and 30, which are in turn pivoted at 31 and 32 to the straps 21 and. 23-. These bars 26,29 and 30 are constructed of substantially hard composition of canvas and rubber, or any-other suitable material, just so long as a sufficient'amountof rigidity and stability is ofiered. However, these bars should be more or less flexible, inorder that awkwardness will be avoided when collapsing thelife preserver. The connections 25,. 31 and 32, as well as 28 and 27,'should be substantially stiff, in order to hold the receptacle properly expanded.

Secured in any suitable manner at 34 tothe lower portion of the receptacle are four stout cords or rope 35, which are connected-at one junction 36, as shownin the drawings. Alsoconnected at the junction 36 is ,a stout cord, rope or strongchain 37,"from the lower end of which a balance weight, 38

I is suspended. This balance weight 38 is provided for the'purpose of balancing and holdingthe life preserver substantially erect or perpendicular, and particularly so because of the embodiment of the pneumatic and the cork brace member 20.

From the foregoing it will be observed there has been devised a novel and simple life preserver having means for holdingthe same substantially erect or perpendicular, and one which has been'found practical.

In the drawings there has been disclosed certain structural features, which in prac-' tical fields may necessitate alterations, to

which the patentee is entitled provided the alterations are comprehended within the scope of what. is claimed.

7 The inventionhaving been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a life preserver, a receptacle constructed; of double. waterproof material and provided with a full closure end adapted to be shirred for closing the receptacle, a plug having. an overhanging shoulder under which the closure end is shirred, an air tube provided with, an automatically closing valve protruding through the plug, means for opening the valve, a pneumatic tube secured on the interior of the receptacle a-d-. jacent the closure end thereof, brace members secured on the interior of the receptacle below the pneumatic tube, pivoted fiber bars connecting between the brace members for holding the receptacle expanded, the pivoted bars constituting means to permit the receptacle to be collapsed. 2. In a life preserver, areceptacle' constru'cted of double water-proof material. and provided with a shirred closure end adapted to .be shirred for closing, the receptacle, an air tube provided with an automatically closing valve protruding'through thev cl'o' sure end, means for automatically closing the valve, means for opening said valve,-a

pneumatic tube secured on the interior of the receptacle adjacent but, below the 01 0-v sure end, three tiers of brace members on. 1

the interior of the receptacle, the upperand lower brace member being'constructed' of a composition of rubber and canvas, while the i lntermedlate brace member 1s constructed of cork or the like, straps constructed of a compositlon of rubber and canvas vulcanlzed or otherwlse secured to the- 1nter1or of the receptacle for holding the brace me1n-.

bers in place, Ypivotally joined barspivoted to said straps and .formingconnections between the three tiers of brace members,':

said pivotally joined bars having. stability and rigidity in order to constitute means to hold the receptacle distended, said pivotally joined bars adapted to collapse when the receptacle collapses, and a weight member suspendedfrom the lower end oflthereceptacle, to maintain the equilibrium of the receptacle. I v v 3. In a life preserver, a receptacle con.-

structe d of double Water-proof material and provided witha gathered closure end adapt ed to be shirred for closing the receptacle,

a plug having. an overhanging shoulder, under which the closure end is shirred, an air tube provided with. an automatically closing valve protruding through the-plug,

a bushingthreadedinto the plugto holdthe air'tube 1n place, means, for opening thevalve, a ,pneumatictube secured on the interlor of the receptacle adjacent but below the closure end, three tiers of brace members on the interior of the receptacle, the

upper and lower brace member beings-concanvas, while the intermediate brace member is constructed of cork or the like, straps constructed of a composition ofrubber and 'structed of a composition of rubber and f canvas vulcanized or otherwise secured to I the lnterlor of the receptacle forholdingthe brace members in place, pivotally joined bars pivoted to said straps, and forming connections between the three tiers of brace members, said pivotally joined barshaving stability andrigidity in order to constitute means to hold the receptacle distended, said name toithis specification in the presence of pigotalily joined dlmrs imdapted t) collaplsle two subscribing witnesses.

W ent e rece tac e cola see an a Wei t member sus e iided ifrom the lower endi of JOHNJAOOB PUSKANEN" 5 the receptac e, to maintain the equilibrium Witnesses:

of the receptacle; E. E. LEQKINEN,

. In testimony whereof I have signed my G}: L. TRAIN.

Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissipner of latentm:

Washington, D.i G. 

